Austrovenus aucklandica

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Austrovenus aucklandica
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Bivalvia
Subclass: Heterodonta
Order: Veneroida
Suborder: Cephalaspidea
Superfamily: Veneroidea
Family: Veneridae
Genus: Austrovenus
Species: A. aucklandica
Binomial name
Austrovenus aucklandica
Powell, 1932
Synonyms

Chione aucklandica Powell, 1932

Austrovenus aucklandica, or the Auckland Islands cockle, is a bivalve mollusc of the family Veneridae.

Contents

[edit] Distribution

This clam is endemic to New Zealand, found only at the Auckland Islands.

[edit] Habitat

The Auckland Islands cockle is common in intertidal mudflats.

[edit] Description

The shell is solid and ovate-quadrate, and less inflated than the similar New Zealand cockle. Its sculpture also differs, the radials being more numerous and without concentric lamellae.

Coloration is chocholate-brown externally, and creamy-white internally, with or without posterior and ventral violet staining.

Length is up to 63 mm, height up to 53 mm, and thickness up to 35 mm.

[edit] References